Day Two of "Abu-Jamal v. Kerestes" had fireworks equal to the opening round on Friday. The arguments for a Preliminary Injunction continued before the U.S. District Court in Scranton Pennyslvania. (here Mumia's interview after Friday's hearing)It was a day of dueling doctors, admissions, explosive documents, and first hand testimony, which debated the constitutional right to health care while in prison. The question: does Mumia Abu-Jamal receive life saving new anti viral drugs that cure Hepatitis C? or will Judge Robert Mariani's federal court allow the Department of Corrections in Pennsylvania to deny any treatment for chronic Hepatitis C - and maintain (a just revealed protocol) that calls for "denying care" and "monitoring imates" while the virus ravages the body causing irreversible organ damage.

The morning featured vigorous cross examination. Dr. Joseph Harris, deftly handled Department of Corrections cross, emphasizing this key point: the cure for Hep C is clearly the medical standard of care. And denial of treatment is no treatment for a progressive and infectious disease.

In a last minute addition to the witness list the DOC questioned dermatologist Dr. Schleicher who first treated Mumia's devasting skin condition in Feb. of 2015. The Department of Corrections through this expert unconvincingly asserted that Mumia's skin condition was unrelated to Hepatitis C, and that his low platelet counts, anemia of chronic disease, abnormal liver function tests, are not caused by Hep C.

At 12:10 of the hearing a withering cross exam by Robert Boyle (Attorney for Abu-Jamal) exposed Schleicher's limited diagnostic acumen, his failure to monitor Mumia's two hospital ICU admissions and the illuiminating fact that he did not follow up on Geisinger Medical Center's recommendation in May for an Hep C viral load test. He got him to admit that "he did not know much about Hep C". Schleicher has continued to treat Mumia, and it was revealed was unaware that the infectious disease specialist hired by the department of Corrections, Dr. Ramon Gadea, had recommended on September 9th treatment for Hepatitis C in response to Mumia's ongoing ravaged skin. Notably, Dr. Gadea and the onsite doctors at SCI Mahanoy who see Mumia in the infirmary on a weekly basis were not called to testify. It can be presumed that their testimony would have been unfavorable to the DOC.

Standing Up for MumiaThe mid afternoon featured Dr. Suzanne Ross and Dr. Johanna Fernandez. The value of these two frequent and long term visitors to Mumia was in the compelling details that they provided describing Mumia's injuries, acute sysmptoms, and deteriorating health. Some examples from the acute period of symptoms in the spring and summer included Mumia's slurred words, elephant skin, scales and bloody cracks in his skin on 90% of his body, extreme weakness, swelling of his limbs, and loss of mental acuity. When cross-exmamined both Ross and Fernandez were unapologetic, as they expounded on Mumia's innocence, unjust incarceration, and the state's naked attempts to silence him.

As those who know Mumia personally realize, the man just does not complain, and is frankly unable to describe his own vulnerablity. As such, this testimony was key. Present through video streaming throughout the proceedings Mumia was, as Dr. Fernandez testified is part of his character, simply stoic. Before this devastating health crisis, there were only a handful of occasions that he has gone to sick call during 34 yrs of incarceration. This might be surprising for a man who is known to the world as a writer and eloquent pubic commentator.

Key Evidence ExposedIn an explosive revelation: Bret Grote of the Abolitionist Law Center, dissected the testimony of DOC defense witness infirmary administrator, Mr. Steinhart - revealing that there is a written Hep C treatment protocol that was developed this year. Grote appealed to the judge, and he required that the DOC immediately produce a copy of the document. Laura Neal, DOC counsel quickly tried to surpress the public release of the document, calling for it to remain under seal. Overheard in the courtroom, DOC associate defense counsel noted that they did not want this document available publically because it would increase the department's liability in the class action pending for inmate Hep C treatment. Debate continues Wed morning on whether this document will be sealed. A Right To Know request by Prison Radio requesting the document was filed with the state during break requested by the judge so he could read the protocol

On tap: Cross Examination of DOC expert- Dr. Jay Cowan, notoriously head of Riker's Island Medical Center. please follow us on twitter, facebook, and tonight on email for updates...

The doctors and lawyers that enforce the PA Department of Corrections policy have got a problem. Health Care is a constitutional right, even for those who are incarcerated. Proving that the DOC has been "deliberately indifferent" the required standard for a preliminary injunction and relief in this case clearly has been met by Abu-Jamal's attorneys.

(NaturalNews) Around 46 million Americans now regularly depend on food banks and soup kitchens to keep themselves and their families from going hungry.

That figure accounts for one-out-of-seven people in the United States, and the need for these facilities is growing – despite the alleged current 'economic recovery' we hear so much about in the media.

And as our nation continues to spend millions per day on military operations in foreign countries, food assistance programs at home are being defunded.

From InvestmentWatchBlog.com:

"From November 1st, $5 billion was wiped off the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as a result of a planned stimulus withdrawal. Almost 50 million Americans who are supported by the program face an average loss of $36 dollars a month, which is a significant amount for those living near the poverty line. Additional cuts are also in the pipeline."

Feeding America

Feeding America is a non-profit organization whose mission is "to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger." The organization is "the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization," and coordinates 200 food banks across the country, which are helping to meet the nutritional needs of 46.5 million people – including 12 million children and 7 million senior citizens.

Every four years, Feeding America publishes the Hunger in America report, the largest such study, which is designed to "help guide the development of programs and solutions that improve food security for individuals and their households and inform public awareness and policy development for addressing hunger in the United States."

The Hunger in America 2014 report contains some rather surprising and sobering statistics that shed light on just how serious the problem has become.

-84% of Feeding America households are regularly 'food insecure'-89% of Feeding America households with children are 'food insecure'-79% of these households report the purchasing of "inexpensive, unhealthy food" to keep from going hungry-1 out of 5 have a household member who has served in the military-1 in 4 have a household member currently serving in the military

At some point, around two-thirds of the households receiving assistance from Feeding America have had to choose between food and medical care. More than two-thirds have had to choose between food and paying the utility bills.

"In 2008, coinciding with the start of the recession, national household food insecurity rates climbed to 14.6 percent, reflecting a 31 percent increase over the prior year. USDA food insecurity rates have held steady since 2008. In 2012—the most current national estimates available at the time of the study—the figures remained high, with 14.5 percent of households or 49 million people living in food insecure households."

As I'm writing this, the holiday season is upon us. It's a time of year when Americans traditionally go out of their way to give to the needy, but it's important to remember that there are those in need of assistance throughout the year.

Contributing to a food bank is one of the best ways to directly help those who are struggling to make ends meet. Whether you donate your time, money or just a few cans of food, you'll be directly addressing one of the most basic human needs.

The problem is greater than many of us may have realized until now, and I hope this article serves as a small inspiration, along with providing some important information.

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Today I went & stood in front of Trump Tower & held a sign until the police came. Then I went home & wrote Donald a letter. Here it is:

Dear Donald Trump:

You may remember (you do, after all, have a "perfect memory!"), that we met back in November of 1998 in the green room of a talk show where we were both scheduled to appear one afternoon. But just before going on, I was pulled aside by a producer from the show who said that you were "nervous" about being on the set with me. She said you didn't want to be "ripped apart" and you wanted to be reassured I wouldn't "go after you."

"Does he think I'm going to tackle him and put him in a choke hold?" I asked, bewildered.

"No," the producer replied, "he just seems all jittery about you."

"Huh. I've never met the guy. There's no reason for him to be scared," I said. "I really don't know much about him other than he seems to like his name on stuff. I'll talk to him if you want me to."

And so, as you may remember, I did. I went up and introduced myself to you. "The producer says you're worried I might say or do something to you during the show. Hey, no offense, but I barely know who you are. I'm from Michigan. Please don't worry -- we're gonna get along just fine!"

You seemed relieved, then leaned in and said to me, "I just didn't want any trouble out there and I just wanted to make sure that, you know, you and I got along. That you weren't going to pick on me for something ridiculous."

"Pick on" you? I thought, where are we, in 3rd grade? I was struck by how you, a self-described tough guy from Queens, seemed like such a fraidey-cat.

You and I went on to do the show. Nothing untoward happened between us. I didn't pull on your hair, didn't put gum on your seat. "What a wuss," was all I remember thinking as I left the set.

And now, here we are in 2015 and, like many other angry white guys, you are frightened by a bogeyman who is out to get you. That bogeyman, in your mind, are all Muslims. Not just the ones who have killed, but ALL MUSLIMS.

Fortunately, Donald, you and your supporters no longer look like what America actually is today. We are not a country of angry white guys. Here's a statistic that is going to make your hair spin: Eighty-one percent of the electorate who will pick the president next year are either female, people of color, or young people between the ages of 18 and 35. In other words, not you. And not the people who want you leading their country.

So, in desperation and insanity, you call for a ban on all Muslims entering this country. I was raised to believe that we are all each other's brother and sister, regardless of race, creed or color. That means if you want to ban Muslims, you are first going to have to ban me. And everyone else.

We are all Muslim.

Just as we are all Mexican, we are all Catholic and Jewish and white and black and every shade in between. We are all children of God (or nature or whatever you believe in), part of the human family, and nothing you say or do can change that fact one iota. If you don't like living by these American rules, then you need to go to the time-out room in any one of your Towers, sit there, and think about what you've said.

And then leave the rest of us alone so we can elect a real president who is both compassionate and strong -- at least strong enough not to be all whiny and scared of some guy in a ballcap from Michigan sitting next to him on a talk show couch. You're not so tough, Donny, and I'm glad I got to see the real you up close and personal all those years ago.

We are all Muslim. Deal with it.

All my best,Michael Moore

P.S. I'm asking everyone who reads this letter to go here (http://michaelmoore.com/weareallmuslim) and sign the following statement: "WE ARE ALL MUSLIM" -- and then post a photo of yourself holding a homemade sign saying "WE ARE ALL MUSLIM" on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram using the hashtag#WeAreAllMuslim. I will post all the photos on my site and send them to you, Mr. Trump. Feel free to join us.

-Otay hunger strikers resume eating after 11 days (including one man who continued for three days even after heart surgery)

-Adelanto and Etowah detainees report sleep deprivation with guards waking them every 15 minutes-Etowah detainees report threats of force feeding-7 Etowah detainees sent to medical unit now on 12th day of strike-At least four of the original El Paso hunger strikers were put on planes for removal and then returned to their cells this weekend-Krome, Etowah, and Aurora cut off calls to known supporters, trying to sever communication.

As the #Freedomgiving hunger strike reaches its 12th day, ICE is responding with varying approaches and candidates are taking notice.

Authorities in other facilities have taken the opposite approach; locking down detainees at the Aurora facility, enacting sleep deprivation measures in Adelanto and Etowah, and threatening force feeding for Etowah detainees who are nearing two weeks without food.

“The fact that people escaping violence are being met with torture inside US facilities should raise alarms and cause urgent intervention,” explains Fahd Ahmed, director of DRUM – Desis Rising Up and Moving. “This is a life and death situation.”

Following that, one of the released strikers will appear on the Family First livestream event with Sen. Sanders this afternoon at 3:00pm to bring further attention to the on-going strike and push for the participants’ immediate release.

Ten years ago today, I was finishing up stuffing holiday cards for my employer when 2 beefy men asked me if i was indeed, Daniel McGowan. Once I was handcuffed and being frog-marched through the office, I knew what it was about.

At the same time, 6 of my codefendants were getting arrested at the same time. Others were receiving grand jury subpoenas as well. Sadly, all the people arrested that day became cooperating witnesses save for William Rodgers, who I knew as 'Avalon', who took his life in a county jail on the Winter Solstice, two weeks after we were arrested.

Of course, other arrests followed in the months after that, with a handful of codefendants refusing to play the game. We came together in solidarity to fight the charges and reduce the potential sentence as much as possible. For that, I will always have gratitude to Jonathan Paul, Nathan Block and Joyanna Zacher (though it would be disingenuous for me to not point out the latter two peoples' identification with esoteric fascist movements currently).

I was bonded out of jail, fought my case on house arrest for a year and months after that, worked out a plea that did not involve naming names or becoming a witness against anyone. It had repercussions for me including more time and no protection from grand juries (and surely, two years later, I was called before one as a witness and put on civil contempt of court). That said, I cannot have seen it going any other way. My regrets with the case is that more of my co-defendants did not stick with us and move forward together-something that had been the idea when worst case scenarios had been discussed years prior.

10 years later, its obvious to me every time i go to any activist event that many younger activists do not know this history. I suppose it is the struggle we all face-how to remember and memorialize, but not live in the past and nostalgia. I can tell people to watch If a Tree Falls or read Green is the New Red (thanks, Marshall Curry, Sam Cullman & Will Potter) but that is an incomplete picture. How then, do we, move forward in our fight for justice and pass on to others what we learned? Its a longer question.

I use the word "I" often in this post and perhaps others as I am talking about the past but at no point have I ever felt alone and not connected to others. Without these stalwart, loyal and amazing people in my life, I know with certainty that things would have gone a totally different way:

Jenny Malone- my former partner and best friend. The rock. The Wizard of Oz behind every aspect of the support campaign and the 'trying to keep me sane' campaign. G.O.A.T. EXES 4EVAH!

My family especially my sister Lisa who funded my legal defense, let me live with her while on house arrest and did not waver or flinch one time. These people taught me loyalty.

Family and Friends of Daniel McGowan better known as FAF.

This small group worked their asses off, put on so many shows, sold a zillon t-shirts, made my court dates, wrote articles, supported me mentally, emotionally and financially, put their lives on hold for some time to make sure I would have a life to come home too.

Prisoner News<ppnews@freedomarchives.org>

Seth has been in the infirmary at Sullivan since he got back from the hospital. Hasn't even been allowed to have a change of clothes. It is difficult to make phone calls.

They are giving him Glucerna twice a day, which is causing his blood sugars to be high (despite the fact that Glucerna is prescribed for diabetics).

The swelling in his legs and feet has returned. His cough has also returned.

Has only seen the doctor once, when he came back from Albany Medical Center.

We know ultimately Seth needs to come home to get healthy. Prison life is not meant for health. He goes to the parole board in June 2016 for the 9th time, not including other parole appeal denials in between the two year hits.

Being outside prison, Seth could receive true medical, family, nutrition and other related aspects of life that can contribute to the immense healing process that is needed.

It would be heartening for Seth to receive get well wishes at this time. Write to Seth and let him know he is in our hearts and on our minds.

Pharmaceutical companies spend millions of dollars a day to air drug ads on television -- $4.5 billion last year -- an investment which results in higher drug prices and keeps much-needed medication out of reach for many Americans.

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently called for a ban on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, but Congress still needs to enact the ban. Please sign my petition urging Congress to do what’s best for American citizens and heed the AMA’s call to ban TV ads for prescription drugs.

The U.S. is one of only two countries (along with New Zealand) that allows TV drug ads. And now, our country’s biggest doctors’ group has determined that these ads do not serve the purpose of educating consumers on the benefits and harms of specific medications. Instead, they just put the names of the newest, flashiest, and most expensive prescription drugs into people’s heads and urge them to “talk to their doctor” about switching. Switching is very often unnecessary at best, and can even be harmful to patients’ health.

And it’s not just the AMA that is concerned about these ads -- a recent poll by the Kaiser Family Health Foundation found that 89% of respondents want the FDA to review prescription ads before they air.Currently, it’s against federal law for the FDA to do this, so it must rely solely on consumer complaints after the ads have run. This does not strike me as the most ethically sound policy, and certainly does not seem like it has the best interest of the patient in mind.

Educating patients about their medication options is best left to doctors and pharmacists, not marketers and ad companies. Please join me in urging Congress to enact a ban on all TV drug ads.